A 90-year-old man from Norbury, Croydon, has become one of the first people in the world to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

George Dyer received his dose of the vaccine, made by scientists at pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, at Croydon University Hospital just after 7am this morning (Tuesday, December 8).

He was dosed just narrowly behind fellow senior citizens Margaret Keenan, 90, of Coventry, who was first in the world to officially be vaccinated, and a man called William Shakespeare from Warwickshire.

George received a round of applause from NHS staff at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust this morning following his vaccination.

"COVID-19 is a terrible thing and I feel very lucky that I can now get this vaccine to keep the virus away," George said after receiving the jab.

"It’s like I’m about to be given a new lease of life and I cannot wait to get back out there and make myself useful again," he added.

The Norbury resident is a former butcher, and has been an NHS volunteer at Croydon University Hospital for the past 16 years, regularly helping patients and welcoming visitors to the Trust.

"I’ve missed my friends and family terribly...I’ve just not left the house," George said of his experience of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"I watched the news and could see my friends in the hospital working harder than they ever have to care for people with this virus.

"I’ve felt helpless, but I’ve had to be sensible so I’ve stayed put. Now it feels like I can get my life back," he said.

Hundreds of other residents aged 80 and over will now follow in his footsteps, alongside as well as care home workers and NHS staff at higher risk as the government and NHS start a nationwide rollout of the vaccine that has been described as "one of the greatest challenges the NHS has ever faced."

More than 400,000 people are expected to be protected from Covid-19 as the first wave of fifty hospital hubs open across the country this week.

Matthew Kershaw, Chief Executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Place Based Leader for Health said he was "incredibly proud of the role that our NHS staff here in Croydon have played in treating people throughout the pandemic and now in vaccinating the most vulnerable people in our communities and ensuring the safety of our patients, our local people and our health and care professionals.

"We need to make sure that the most vulnerable people get it first, so the NHS will be advising people in priority groups when it’s the right time for them to come forward for the vaccine.

"In the meantime, we’re asking the public to continue to abide by all the social distancing and hand hygiene guidance, which will still save lives."

To find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit nhs.uk/CovidVaccine